Map capable of being folded together and spread flat again



2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 G. E. A. FALK MAP CAPABLE OF BEING FOLDED TOGETHER AND SPREAD FLAT AGAIN Hllilillll Oct. 28, 1952 Filed March 14, 1950 I N VEN TOR.

m N W T T q Oct. 28, 1952 E. A. FALK 1 MAP CAPABLE OF :BEING FOLDED TOGETHER AND SPREAD FLAT AGAIN Filed March 14 1950 7 IV V Fig 5 any 5r gar JV 2 SHEETSSHEET 2 IN VEN TOR.

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Patented Oct. 28, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MAP CAPABLE OF BEING FOLDED TO- GETHER AND SPREAD FLAT AGAIN Gerhard Ernst Albrecht Falk, Hamburg, Germany Application Maren 14, 1950, Serial No. 149,631. In Germany March 14, 1949 the breadth of the map. The width of the book depends on the width chosen for the folds, and its thickness merely on the length of the map.

If however the size of the map in its two directions is of similar proportions, a book -like form can hardly be obtained by such folding. Only a more or lessnarrow strip is obtained in this way which however is still so long that it requires further folding .to make a book of it.

Already many proposals have been put forward to solve the problem of folding a map in book-like form so that it can be read like'a book and spread openlike the conventional fiat map. The inventor has, to solve thisproblem, adopted a new method which resulted in a map that meets it far better than earlier proposals in thisdirection.

In describing the invention it will be best to go out from its conception and history, although the features by which the invention may be characterized in form of claims must be defined in a different way.

v The inventor makes first out of a map, which is, in one direction not much wider than in the,

other, a long and narrow middle strip by provid-v ing the map with two cross-flaps each folded tog'ether in accordion or zigzag form. One of these cross-flaps is disposed along one of the long edges of 'the middle strip, the other cross-flan being aligned opposite it on the other edge. The first side of each cross-flap. is folded or turned over toward the face of the middle strip, the width of the middle strip being chosen according to the height desired for the book. The narrow strip thus formed is folded in accordion or zigzag form with a plurality of longitudinal fold-breaks, which results in a book with one set of longitudinal fold-breaks lying on the book spine and the alternate longitudinal fold-breaks on the opposite or front edge of the book. Now the portions of the longitudinal fold-breaks which run across the cross-flaps, but only those fold-breaks directed to the front edge, are slit open down to the upper and lower edges of the book, that is, to the fold-breaks joining the middle strip to the two cross-flaps.

" The map thus resulting possesses considerable I 2 Claims, (01. 283-34) 2 advantages. opened the entire map compass can be viewed by merely unfolding the cross flaps on the upper and lower edge of the book. It is not necessary to spread the whole cross flap open. If for instance a zigzag cross flap consists of three sides folded in zigzag form to allow viewing the middle part of the map, only the three sides of the zig-' zag cross folding in their entirety need to be opened. The second and third side of the zigzag cross folding needs to be opened only if also the outer portion of the map is to be viewed; It will in this case do to, for example, open only the third side of the zigzag cross folding, whereby only the marginal portion of the map lies open for view.

A map thus put together in book-like form according to the invention is characterized by'the feature that a book is constituted by foldinga middle strip in accordion fashion to forma series of longitudinal panels, the upper and lower edges of which are provided with accordion cross-flaps running perpendicular to these longitudinal panels. The first side of each of these crossflaps, when folded, faces the map area of-the middle strip. These cross-flaps are separated into separate sectionsby providing slits in the cross-flaps along those alternate longitudinal fold-breaks which lie on the front edged the book, these slits extending to the upper or lower book edge. The longitudinal fold-breaks lying on the book spine, on the other hand, run through on the cross-flaps, when folded together, in the same folding direction'. v

If the'map' has previously been providedwith the slits described, also the cross-flaps can now be unfoldedonly after a pair of longitudinal panels are unfolded. In" this Way a map results which allows a'viewof the entire surface without it being necessary to unfold the map- Thusthe map consists practically of butzigzagjfolding (to wit the longitudinal panels) together with another zigzag folding, that is the cross-flaps, which is vertically disposedto the formen By using the longitudinal folds, a map as big even as 2 to 3 m. high may easilybe accommodated in a handy book-like container. The cross-folds permit of a similarly large extension of the map in the other direction.

The invention may be availed of to special advantage for auto maps. In this case it may sometimes prove practical to arrange the north south direction of the map in the direction of its longitudinal folds which requires the book to be laid crosswise for reading the map.

When the book-formed map is is only on the top or bottom edge of the book even;

if it may as a rule prove practical to provide cross-folds both on the top edge aswell-as-"th'e bottom edge of the length folds.

The cross-flaps provided on the upperand lower edge of the longitudinal panels, which'are determinant for the size of the book, are suitably so dimensioned that they donotcoveror'toiich each other so that a gap remains betweentwo" cross-flaps, along which they can easily be raised and turned over.

It-may also'be sometimes advisable to have-a map-picture also on the back ofthe cross-flaps; such picture; then connecting with its 1 fore-side. The-view of these connectedparts is then possible by simply turning over the cross-flaps.-

Besides it will prove practical according to the invention to make the second side of a cross-flap a bitsmallerin the direction of the upper or lower book edge than the first sides In this way on'the-ba'ck of the first side a strip results which may be used for instance for index purpose. A breadth of about 1 cm. for this-strip provedpractical. e p

If-the-back'of the;;cross-flaps are not used for mapillustration they can be *used for supplementary cartographic representations in connection with themap on the front side. These backs may for instance; be used to -print connection mapson '-orsimplified maps oftowns or districts of the areashown onthe front side with their mainstreets;-high-roads-etc.

The longitudinal panelscanalso be'turne'd over from the back-whereby the wholesurface of-the sides'of themiddle strip'is spreadopen. The backof the'middle strip may accordingly be provided with additional information: These representationshowever, contrary -to the representations onthe" backs of the cross-flaps; do-not connect up=with the main map.

The accompanying drawing shows an-embodi-' ment attire-collapsible map-in simplified-repre-' sentation.--

Fig.1 shows a view of-the'front'-"side-of a-map according to the inventionr v Fig.2 shows-a view ofthe back-of-themap corresponding with Fig. '1.

Fig.--3 is a pesrpective view of the map'folded together like a book." Itshows in particular the zigzag" 'folding "for the "formation of the book: This perspective view allows a view of the front side of the map.

Fig.4 is a perspectiveview similar' to Fig." 3, howeverof the back of the'in'ap.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view'of'the map folded together in book form, this bookbein g placed crosswise with the two cross-flaps provided for the upper and lower edge partly'open' Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the map shown. in Figs. 1-5, folded together like 'a'book, showing this book open in cross-position and with one gether according to the invention is read in broadside-wise form.

The cut of the map is as shown in Figures 1 and 2, considerably larger in its southern part than in its northern. As described below such a form can be made into a book-like map by application 'of the principles 'of the invention.

Panels 1 to 1G serve as the main body of the map. They can be folded together accordion-like into longitudinal folds. In the specification following' all areas'of the map which are separated from 'each other by folds or slits are designated by-numbers; If it is necessary for detailed description to'point out that front or back of this square area is meant, the letter 1) is put behind the -re's'pectiveletter to designate the front, the letter? to designate the back.

Theheight of the book when folded together is that of the size of the longer sides of areas II0 and the width that of the size of the smaller sides of areas II 3. Them'ap extendsto both sides of central'ar'eas or panels I to It, thesesideareas or-cr'o's's fiap's being connected to the main body of the mapby fold-breaks II and I2.

That portion of the map that lies on both sides of areas I--I 0 is provided with slits going through as far as'fold-breaks I I, I2 in the following manneri Slits I3, I4 lie in continuations of foldbreak I5 which separates the two areas 2 and 3. Thetwo slits I6 and I! lie in continuation of the fold-break I8 which separates area 4 and 5 from each other. Slits I9 and'20 lie'in continuation of fold-break 2| which separates the two'areas 6 and! and'slits '22 'and23 lie in continuation of fold-break which separatesarea's 8 and 9.

Areas I- I 0 can now be folded togetherin zigzag like form in such a way that'fold-breaks l5, I8, 2| and'24, 'to'g'etherwith the slits lying in their continuation show tothe book front. Foldbreaks 25', 26, 21; 28 and-29 lie correspondingly on the'bo'ok-backand run all across the map.

If this'embodiment thus createdand already resembling a book is then unfolded again somewhere, those parts of the map that lie to the right or left of the fold-breaks II and I2 which run all the way through the map accordingto Fig. l can be provided with further fold-breaks 30', 3 I, 32 33, 34. While fold-break 30 runs, the same as fold-breaks I I and I2, right across the map, fold-break 3| runs only from the top to slit 20. The area below slit 20 and on the right (in Fig. 1) from fold-break I2- is subdivided by the three fold-breaks 32, 33 and 34 in adifierent way The dista'nce between the left edge of themap (Fig. 1) and fold-break 30 is -slightly smaller- (about-l cm.) than the" distance between the fold-breaks 30 and I I; Conformably the distance between-the right part of the map and foldbreak 3I is-also smaller than the distance be tween fold-break 3| and I2.

For-thepurpose'explained later the distance between'fold break I2 and'fold-break 32' is larger than that between' fold-br'eak 32 and 33. The distancebetweenfold-break as and 34' is again larger "than the distance between'fold-break 34 and 'therig'ht-hand edge of the map (Fig. 1). In'this'way-areas result on the map'which are designated with the numbers35 to 82;

'I'hefareas between: the fold-breaks 30and II are folded'in' the direction of the front of the map'iwhereas'the areas between fold-break 30 and the left'edge of the map are folded in zigzag form in opposite direction. The same applies tothe-areas betweemthefoI'd-breaks l2 and ll gar-aver and between fold-break 3| and the right outer edgeof the map. I

The different map areas below slit 2!] are also folded in zigzag form by first folding the areas between fold-breaks I2 and 32 in the direction of the map front.

In Figs. 3-6 the mode of folding of the map, which also permits of the different possibilities of using the map, is shown. In comparing the reference symbols of these figures with Fig. 1 and 3 the kinds of folding are already made clear.

According to Fig. 3 the sides I-I are laid halfway together in accordion or zigzag form in order to show the mode of folding. Vertical to this folding on the lower edge of the book another accordion folding according to fold-breaks Ii and 30 is shown. A similar folding lies on the upper edge of this book with however only a folding made along fold-breaks l2 and 3| as far as fold-break 2| which continues in slit 20 whereas after that the folding along fold-breaks 32, 33, 34 was done. Fig. 3 also shows that the cross foldings made on the upper and lower edges of the book, along which fold-breaks I I and I2 run, will not, when folded together, cover each other.

In Fig. 4 the back of the map may be seen in half-folded stage. As can be seen particularly well from Fig. 3, the map is provided with a protective wrapper which may be used additionally also for the reception of a booklet containing information about the map. This protective wrapper has the reference symbols 83, 84. On the back of side 84 of the protective Wrapper the back of area I is pasted. This side I cannot be seen in Fig. i as it is covered by area 2. The backs of the areas 2I0 are, as may be inferred from Figs. 4 and 2, provided with small city maps in the example embodiment, showing for instance the thoroughfares of the more important cities which are contained on the map front area.

As already explained above, for instance areas 35 and 39 are slightly smaller than areas 36 and 48. By that arrangement a margin 85 results on the lower edge of the book, that is on the lefthand side of the map, while it is viewed. This margin may be used for index purposes. Fig. 3 shows that for instance the map area between the upper edge and fold-break I5 (with its continuation in slits I3 and I4) is designated with l. Conformably the map areas between foldbreaks I 5 and I8 are designated with 2, those between fold-breaks I8 and 2I with 3, those between 2| and 24 with 4 and those between 24 and the lower border with 5. This 5 is for instance contained also in Fig. 6. All these numbers are shown in the index margin. The index margin serves besides to point to the more important places situated in the respective map area. These index margins are very clearly shown in Fig. 6 where they are designatedwith 86, 81 and 88.

While the backs of the areas 2I0 must be printed upside down, contrary to the front of the map, to allow their view broadside-wiseas' shown in Fig. 5, the backs of the cross-flaps, that is the flaps on the left of fold-break II and the flaps on the right of fold-break I2 in Fig. 1 can be read in the same direction of view as the front of the map without it being necessary that the printing is upside down. This is more clearly shown in Fig. 6 which shows how the backs of areas 15, 16, 8| and 82 can be read. By further turning over also the backs of areas 13, 14, I9 and 80 can be read. In a given case the back of the cross-flaps can therefore be used as continuation of ,the map representatiod of fthe'ffront' case preferably such cities are chosen as appear on the front side of the respective map section in reduced scale.

The map is read in broadside position as shown in'Fig. 5'by turning the cross-flaps, when -.required, outwards. even necessary to unfold all cross-flaps. After for instance areas I and 2 of the map have been opened, the areas 31 and 4| can be read. In this case their backs may remain folded together with the backs of areas 38 and 42 and only the crossflaps need be laid around fold-break I2 outwards. As specially Fig. 2 shows, all backs of those areas which lie in this figure on the left of fold-break I2 have some text, for instance for explanations in connection with the map, or advertising matter. On the left of fold-break I2 (in Fig. 2) and on the left of fold-break 33 narrow strips have printing which may serve as index strips after the map is folded together.

The backs of the cross-flaps which lie on the right of fold-break II and above slit I3 (in Fig. 2) are arranged for receiving a general plan of the whole map and information referring to the general plan. Again a narrow strip on the right of fold-break II (in Fig. 2) serves for the reception of index information. Also all other areas on the right of fold-break II and below slit I3 (in Fig. 2) contain advertising text or information.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is:

l. A map capable of assuming a book-like form, comprising a middle strip having a plurality of longitudinal panels folded in accordion fashion to form a book, a plurality of cross-flaps extending from the upper and lower edges of said middle strip, each of said cross-flaps being folded in accordion fashion, the cross-flaps along said upper and lower edges each being separated into sections by a plurality of slits along those alternate fold-breaks between said longitudinal panels which are in the front of the book, said slits extending to the upper and lower edges of the book, the longitudinal fold-breaks lying on the book spine running through said cross-flaps in the same folding direction When the cross-flaps are folded together, the cross-flaps being so dimensioned and folded that there remains a gap between each pair of opposite cross-flaps when folded together, whereby both cross-flaps of a pair are simultaneously accessible for unfolding when a pair of adjacent panels are unfolded.

2. A map capable of assuming a book-like form, comprising a middle strip having a plurality of longitudinal panels folded in accordion fashion to form a book, a plurality of cross-flaps extending from the upper and lower edges of said middle strip, each of said cross-flaps being folded in accordion fashion, the cross-flaps along said upper and lower edges each being separated into sections by a plurality of slits along those alternate fold-breaks between said longitudinal panels which are in the front of the book, said slits extending to the upper and lower edges of the book, the longitudinal fold-breaks lying on the book spine running through said cross-flaps in the same folding direction when the cross-flaps are folded together, at least one of said cross-flaps It is in that case often not' being doldmi into areas otprogressively, decrease;

in; width in. a direction away fromsaid middle Number swims-whereby anuindex strip willhbeexposedi 23,013, along the outeredge ofrnthe backrof .one of .said areasvwhen said-cross flapis .folded; 3

GERHARDERNST ALBRECHT .F'ALK.

REFERENCES, CITED The 1 following references are of record in: tha: file'tof this patenti FOREIGN. ILA'I'ENTS Country Date 1 Great-Britain- .Dec-. 1'I, 1908 France: .Nov.= 8. 1928 

